Please keep in mind that WIC is a huge federal organization in every state  
in the United States. WIC serves over 9 million mothers and babies through  
hundreds of local agencies in communities. As with any large institution  
there are variables. 
That being said, WIC does have guidelines for pump issuance. There is a  
position paper from the National WIC Association, Guidelines for WIC Agencies  
Providing Pumps, which clearly states specific reasons to provide breast 
pumps  to mothers. This document acknowledges that pumps may be given when 
there is  separation of mother and baby but not to avoid solving problems as 
suggested in  the post by anonymus.
In many WIC agencies, the rule is any mother should be seen by a Peer  
Counselor or Breastfeeding Coordinator for any concerns. Obviously "anonymous"  
does not work in an agency where these guidelines are followed.
 An example recently in one of our clinics was when a baby was sent  home 
from the hospital with tongue tie. After her 2 week check  the mother was 
sent to the WIC clinic for formula when the baby was not  gaining well. Rather 
than giving the mother formula, she was referred to the WIC  LC. The WIC LC 
recognized the problem and sent the mother to her doctor for a  referral for 
a frenotomy. The mother was told since the baby was taking formula,  there 
was no reason for the frenotomy. WIC followed the correct procedure in  this 
case. Some formula was given because the baby was obviously not  
transferring milk well. However, this was only a temporary solution. The mother  was 
to see the LC after the tongue tie was resolved. But our recommendation was  
ignored.
WIC is making strides to meet the needs of the 9 million mothers and babies 
 they serve. But we are a large organization with many people. Some 
agencies have  moved quickly to provide breastfeeding support. Some are still 
working on that  move. 
 
Are you aware that the House and Senate Appropriations  Conference 
Agreement on the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Act provides $80  million for 
breastfeeding peer counselors and other related activities?   
And that an additional $5 million are slated for  breastfeeding performance 
bonuses? This new funding is a testament to  WIC's commitment to 
breastfeeding support. This is not about gadgets, this  is about people 
I think many agencies will be offended by the  generalization of the “
abusive” or “loose” practices. In my state for example,  nipple shields or 
supplementers are only provided to a mother if an IBCLC  determines it's use is 
appropriate. These items are not purchased just to  give them away. There are 
purchased to use in situation where a mother may not  continue 
breastfeeding without our assistance. 
As all of us know, there are hospitals where these devices  are provided 
inappropriately as well. Pointing fingers at one institution never  solves the 
problem. Working together to support breastfeeding does. 
I was fortunate to present a Call to Action for  Breastfeeding as the 
representative for the National WIC Association this  summer. Some of the exact 
words from this paper were, "make no mistake,  exclusive breastfeeding is our 
goal at WIC". And it will continue to  be. How many hospitals or other 
institutions have made this their stated  goal? 
Will it take awhile to get everyone on board? Yes, it will.  But recent 
funding changes can help us to provide more training to have more  IBCLCs at 
WIC. Do we want them? Yes. I personally have worked for over 20 years  as an 
IBCLC at WIC. And that was my only job, not certifying participants.  
These general assumptions about an organization as large as  WIC are just 
one person's observation in her area. There are numerous places  where IBCLCs 
are part of WIC. And we are working to bring that change to more  areas. 
The NWA Breastfeeding Committee is preparing information for local  agencies 
to encourage more IBCLCs. We want this change and it will come. Do not  apply 
a local situation to a nation. 
Carole Peterson MS, IBCLC, RLC 
Chairperson for the National WIC Association Breastfeeding  Committee 


 





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